Chiltern and Cherwell Valley Lines

Pictures from the last days of steam to the present on the lines from Marylebone & Paddington through the Chiltern Hills and Cherwell Valley to Birmingham Snow Hill, plus associated branch lines. Photos are in chronological order, apart from the first few, oldest first! New (or old!) pictures are constantly being added!

This was the first move over the new Chord at Bicester other than works and engineering trains, the first of a series of driver training runs over the next few weeks prior to the passenger service commencing between Oxford Parkway and Marylebone. 168 219 leads 165 023 and 168 110 down the gradient of the chord from Bicester South Junction in the distance, towards Bicester Gavray Junction behind the camera position. The working was 5T00, 06:03 from Aylesbury, reverse at High Wycombe and then to Oxford Parkway. The sun was still below the horizon as the train passes at 07:01 on the cold, clear morning of Monday 28th September 2015. The train was later split into two portions and then again, so three independent trains ran along the new line. Digital Image No. IGMP11097.